In 1979, naturalist Sir David Attenborough set the benchmark in nature documentaries with his BBC series “Life on Earth,” which was shown in America on public television.

With the proliferation of cable channels, there are plenty of nature docs around, but none have the scope or impact of Attenborough’s 2001 “The Blue Planet,” a breathtaking exploration of marine life, or 2006’s “Planet Earth,” the biggest nature documentary ever made for television and shot in stunning high definition.

The 90-year-old Attenborough and his authoritative voice are onboard to narrate the BBC’s latest wildlife foray, “The Hunt,” which begins airing Sunday on BBC America.

The series doesn’t measure up to top-flight Attenborough, who is working on “Planet Earth II,” but it is mostly fascinating as well as, of course, informative.

“Duels between hunters and the hunted are as dramatic as any in the natural world,” we’re told early on, and then reminded: “Hunters usually fail.”

We are then given an example of a leopard that comes up empty after stalking a herd of impala.

A number of the confrontations are familiar: primeval-looking Nile crocodiles surprising wildebeests or a team of orcas taking on humpback whales. The emphasis is on the cunning and strategy of the hunters to make their kill and the prey to escape. Desperation, however, can bring unexpected risks.

In episode two of the seven-part series, called “In the Grip of Seasons: Arctic,” we see a polar bear on the ice using all its wiles to sneak up on a lounging seal. Though white, the bear is easy to spot, so it dips between the ice holes to get close enough to pounce.

When summer comes, the polar bear is even more exposed, and usually listless and lying around. So when hunger drives one to perilously climb down unstable rocky cliffs to get at nesting auks and their eggs, it’s an arresting sight.

With smaller and more agile high-definition cameras and slow-motion photography, wildlife cinematography has simply become amazing in the past decade. “The Hunt” has its share of magnificent shots, such as a giant cat leaping impossibly high to try to snatch a bird it has startled.

But then there are some predators you might overlook, like the fearsome — and nightmarish-looking — Portia spider. Known for its hunting skills, Portia doesn’t use a web. Instead it utilizes jumping skills to surprise its prey, often other spiders.

When we see these hunter-prey confrontations, the interesting question is: Whom do we root for in nature’s game?

An insect being eaten probably won’t elicit much response, but what about a pack of wolves running down a white rabbit?

How about a powerful harpy eagle picking off a monkey? Then we learn it is to feed the eagle’s chick, who, if it doesn’t learn to hunt when it is older, may be killed off by its parents to make room for a new chick.

Such is life, Darwinism.

Or how about chimpanzees, which we often think of as cute? When a group of chimps band together in a strategic team to hunt down monkeys for food, who’s cuter, the hunters or the prey? Once the chimps get one, a brutal scene ensues as they tear it up to share.

The series shies away from graphic scenes, making it suitable for children, but it often leads you to the edge so you can use your imagination.

If you only learn one thing from “The Hunt,” it is that being a predator requires patience, and so sometimes does the art of escape. Unfortunately, as is all too common these days, the final episode — “Living With Predators: Conservation” — reminds us that humans are the most dangerous predators of all as more and more wild species are disappearing.

By the way, BBC America will be airing “Planet Earth” on Sunday, starting at 10 a.m.

Rob Lowman began at the L.A. Daily News working in editing positions on the news side, including working on Page 1 the day the L.A. Riots began in 1992. In 1993, he made the move to features, and in 1995 became the Entertainment Editor for 15 years. He returned to writing full time in 2010. Throughout his career he has interviewed a wide range of celebrities in the arts. The list includes the likes of Denzel Washington and Clint Eastwood to Kristin Stewart and Emma Stone in Hollywood; classical figures like Yo Yo Ma and Gustavo Dudamel to pop stars like Norah Jones, Milly Cyrus and Madonna; and authors such as Joseph Heller, John Irving and Lee Child. Rob has covered theater, dance and the fine arts as well as reviewing film, TV and stage. He has also covered award shows and written news stories related to the entertainment business. A longtime resident of Santa Clarita, Rob is still working on his first more-than-30-year marriage, has three grown children (all with master's degrees) and five guitars.